The iron pot was covered in rust and looked unfit for use. Who knew how long it had been left somewhere damp? But today it had been brought out and cleaned again. A gaunt-cheeked man scrubbed hard at the rust with a large piece of filthy fur. From time to time, he rinsed it with clean water from beside him, letting the rust-red liquid flow into the clear stream.
A noisy commotion came from nearby. Everyone was gathered around the sacks of grain. Every so often, someone reached in and took a handful, their face full of wonder, as if they were seeing grain for the first time in their life. Those plump kernels of wheat filled everyone with awe and amazement. It felt as though they had not seen so much grain in one place for more than ten years. The full, rich feeling of running their hands through it was almost addictive.
Several women were washing wild greens. For the past month, these had been their only means of staying alive... Before that, they had still had some wild tubers to eat. The men who had to hunt could just about get their stomachs half full. Later, when all the tubers had been eaten and not a single living creature could be found within several gari of forest, they had been left with nothing but sour, astringent greens to fill their stomachs...
They only dared eat the kinds they recognized. This unfamiliar forest was full of plants they had never seen before. One reckless fool had eaten a handful of tender grass with purple leaves. That very night, he had bled from his nose and mouth and died in his lean-to.
Most of the greens they recognized were sour, astringent and unpleasant. They could not fill a person's stomach, only barely keep them alive... Even so, only the strong men and children on the verge of starving to death were allowed a little more. Those unable to work suffered the most. They had to make do with a few scraps, and by now nearly all of them had starved to death.
But today they had pulled off something big. They had stolen from those terrifying cavalrymen. A suggestion that would once have been dismissed as madness had actually succeeded... The two men who brought the grain back had nearly died from exhaustion, but their eyes still shone with excitement. To give them the strength to carry it, the day before they decided to carry out the raid, everything that could fill a stomach had been given to them. And they had not let everyone down. They had brought back three large sacks of grain, enough for several days of full meals.
Only poor Kedo had been unlucky. They had heard he had taken an arrow to the leg and been captured by the cavalry. His corpse was probably cold by now.
At last, the iron pot was scrubbed clean. A fire was soon lit in the hearth built from a few stones. Almost everything was scarce in this forest, but wood certainly was not. The dry branches lying on the ground alone were enough to cook this meal. Too hungry to bother with any careful preparation, they gave the wheat a quick rinse and tipped it straight into the pot, then threw in the wild greens as well.
Several men kept throwing firewood into the hearth. Their eyes were fixed on the big pot as their hands mechanically pushed in more wood. They did not notice that they had packed the hearth so tightly that the fire was almost smothered. Only when a short figure came over and punched each of them on the head did they come to their senses.
No one cared about anything else. Everyone crowded around the three big pots, wooden bowls in hand. Smelling the cooked grain, they swallowed again and again... Even the men posted as lookouts kept turning distractedly toward the camp, hoping the food would be ready soon so they could have a few mouthfuls.
When everything in the pots had boiled down into mush, the short fellow took a pale yellow crystal from a pocket as everyone watched eagerly. The crystal was placed on a flat stone and crushed to powder with a wooden stick, then poured into the pots. Only after stirring it in thoroughly did the short figure announce that the meal was ready.
Everyone began shouting. No one could tell what they were saying. They surged desperately toward the pots, thrusting their filthy, battered bowls forward, each wanting to get their food a little sooner. They shoved heedlessly against one another, pushing, kicking, hitting and cursing loudly.
As things grew more chaotic and the cries of several children could be heard, the short figure suddenly drew a greatsword from behind their back. The little person wore a ridiculous sack over their head, with two holes cut in it. Now they swung the scabbard at the crowd, raining blows on heads and faces.
The leather-covered hardwood scabbard lashed mercilessly across faces and legs. The sharp pain sent everyone scattering with howls. Some abandoned even their battered bowls and fled with their hands over their heads. At that moment, not one of them was still thinking of grabbing food. One skinny man ran in such a hurry that he fell and smashed his bowl against a stone.
Under this unusual form of "education with a stick," they finally learned to stop crowding. One after another, they got food in their bowls. Even the unlucky skinny man began eating, sharing a bowl with someone else. Slurping sounds rose one after another. Not one person spared the slightest attention for anything else. All they cared about was the hot porridge in their bowls.
Everyone ate very quickly, especially the strong, sturdy men. They finished their bowls in a few mouthfuls, then immediately got up and ran to the pots. With the large wooden ladle, they scraped the bottoms until the last trace of liquid was gone and the pots were cleaner than if they had been washed. Only then did they reluctantly put down the ladle.
A peaceful mood settled over the whole camp. Once fed, no one wanted to move. They lay lazily on their animal skins. The lookouts around the camp were finally allowed to come back and eat as well. Hot porridge cooked especially for them in a small pot was still steaming...
The short figure, who clearly held considerable authority among these people, looked around. Only after making sure everyone had food did the figure fill a bowl and slip into a tent.
The coarse sack came off, revealing short, dark blond hair that barely reached the back of the head. The sack had pressed it into a mess, but it still had a distinctive texture. Bright emerald-green eyes were lively, alert and cunning. Dust covered the face, yet the fine features and smooth skin were still clear. Almost no one would have guessed that such a handsome boy was hiding under that ragged sack. Though he still had a childish look, he was already strikingly good-looking.
The boy glanced around warily. Once he was sure no one had entered his tent, he began eating as fast as he could. He paid no attention to the layer of black, greasy grime on the wooden bowl. With a wooden spoon, he rapidly shoveled food into his mouth. He even ate so quickly that some went down the wrong way, but he did not dare cough loudly. He clamped a hand over his mouth and let out a few muffled sounds instead.
His stomach had gone so long without proper food that a bowl of hot porridge immediately warmed it. Once he had eaten the bowlful, even the greenish pallor hunger had left on his face faded noticeably. Just as a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth and his face began to relax, frightened shouting made him spring to his feet inside the tent...
Outside, everything had fallen into chaos. Everyone was shouting and crying out. Even through that uproar, an unsettling sound reached his ears: the terrible scrape of iron armor plates rubbing together. Merely hearing it seemed to bring a strong taste of blood almost into his mouth. The cries outside quickly grew desperate. He pulled the sack over his head, grabbed his bow and greatsword, and ducked out.
The moment he emerged, a dazzling glare almost blinded him. When he recovered, he saw that a tall figure was already standing in front of him. Smooth iron armor reflected the sunlight...
* * *
The boy crouched dejectedly on the ground. All his weapons had been taken away. The terrifying officer stood in front of him, looking him over suspiciously.
"You're a pretty little fellow. You don't look at all like someone who would do this sort of thing... Well, what's your name?"
The boy looked even more disheartened. He almost forced the two syllables out through his teeth.
"...Corein..."
"What?"
"...I said my name's Corein..."
The officer gave him a strange look, surprise clear in his eyes. Then he suddenly crouched and leaned closer, speaking quietly.
"...You're not a woman, are you?..."
The boy jumped up like a startled rabbit.
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